Trinidad James Signs With Def Jam

Twitter went into overload a couple of days ago amongst rumors that new rap sensation, Trinidad James, was signed to a reported $2 Million dollar contract with Def Jam Records. Yesterday the deal was confirmed when Def Jam released their statement on the whole ordeal.

“We’re excited to welcome a young talent like Trinidad James to the Def Jam family,” Joie Manda says. “Def Jam prides itself as both a cornerstone of hip-hop’s rich tradition, and as a vital, forward-thinking label dedicated to breaking and nurturing emerging artists. Trinidad James represents the cutting-edge of what’s happening in the culture today. We are thrilled to have him at the label, and look forward to growing his already massive buzz.” Trinidad James thanked Def Jam for believing.

While the recording industry has been steadily changing more in the last decade– arguably more so than in it’s infancy, the power of one single is rearing it’s head. Labels would rather invest millions of dollars into a YouTube sensation (over 2.7 million views on his single “Gold”), rather than gamble on seasoning an act that could have more longevity. While James has been one of the most entertaining rap acts as of late, it’s pretty premature for a label with so much iconic history to allegedly invest $2 million into a single. But is there really any significant difference between A$AP Rocky’s early signing with Polo/RCA verses James recent signing?

Ryan Lyons is a Baltimore, Maryland native with a passion for the unadulterated fun of the 80’s. A writer who enjoys providing coverage of music and fashion, Lyons cites late 80’s fashion in respect to icons like Run DMC and Hip-Hop, as his main inspiration. His love for all things hip-hop is highlighted in RESPECT.The Fresh and other RESPECT. features.